Joy A Plenty confirmed she had returned from her spell in terrific order with a strong victory in the Benchmark 68 over 1200 metres at the Sunshine Coast on 8 February. Having resumed from an October break with an encouraging second placing at her previous start, she had already signalled that a win was imminent. That performance put the writing on the wall, and she duly delivered here with a performance full of determination and class.
Jumping from the inside gate, Joy A Plenty was given a well-judged ride by Cody Collis, who used the draw to secure an economical position just behind the speed. Settling comfortably in transit, she travelled sweetly and was full of running as the field approached the home turn, trailing the leading pair and waiting for clear running. At the top of the straight, Collis had to be patient and work to secure a gap, but once the opportunity presented itself, he drove her through decisively.
When asked for her effort, Joy A Plenty responded in excellent fashion, surging to the lead and asserting her authority over her rivals. She went on to score with a margin to spare, underlining both her fitness and her competitive edge. The victory marked the fourth of her career and lifted her prizemoney tally to an impressive $145,000, a deserved reward for her consistency and progression.
The consistent four-year-old daughter of Heroic Valour has now finished in the money in six of her past seven starts, a testament to her reliability and racing attitude. With her latest win confirming she has returned in peak condition, Joy A Plenty looks well placed to maintain that excellent strike rate and continue her upward trajectory in the coming months.